Foot positioning device

Abstract

A foot positioning device is described. The device includes a strap, which can be utilized to place the foot in a desired position. The device can further include an article of footwear, such as a sock, which can assist with placement of the strap.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A foot positioning device comprising:
 a strap formed of a single, continuous strip of material for placing a foot in a desired position, the strap including:
 a first aligned portion; 
 a first transition region immediately adjacent to the first aligned portion; 
 an offset portion immediately adjacent to the first transition region, wherein the offset portion is configured for placement along a forward portion of the foot; 
 a second transition region immediately adjacent to the offset portion; and 
 a second aligned portion immediately adjacent to the second transition region, wherein first and second aligned portions are aligned, wherein the first and second aligned portions are configured for securing the strap around an ankle, and wherein the first and second transition regions provide a fixed offset distance between the offset portion and the first and second aligned portions. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the offset portion is approximately one fifth a length of the strap. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the material is a rubber latex material. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the rubber latex material has a thickness of approximately 0.1 centimeters and a width of approximately 4 centimeters. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising means for temporarily securing the first and second aligned portions of the strap to each other. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the means for temporarily securing includes a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the offset portion is approximately five times the fixed offset distance. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the offset portion is rectangular and has a width approximately the same as widths of the first and second aligned portions. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first aligned portion has a length larger than the second aligned portion. 
     
     
       10. A foot positioning device comprising:
 a strap for placing a foot in a desired position, the strap including:
 a first aligned portion; 
 a second aligned portion, wherein the first and second aligned portions are aligned and have substantially constant widths; and 
 a rectangular offset portion located between the first and second aligned portions, wherein the rectangular offset portion is configured for placement along a forward portion of a foot and the first and second aligned portions are configured for securing the strap around an ankle, and wherein the first and second aligned portions are in parallel with and laterally offset from the rectangular offset portion by a fixed offset distance. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , the strap further comprising:
 a first transition region immediately adjacent to the first aligned portion and the rectangular offset portion; 
 a second transition region immediately adjacent to the second aligned portion and the rectangular offset portion, wherein each of the first and second transition regions has a length approximately twice the fixed offset distance. 
 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the strap is formed of a single, continuous strip of material. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the strap is formed of a rubber latex material having a thickness of approximately 0.1 centimeters. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 10 , wherein a length of the rectangular offset portion is approximately five times the fixed offset distance. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 10 , further comprising means for temporarily securing the first and second aligned portions of the strap to each other. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the means for temporarily securing includes a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
       17. A foot positioning device comprising:
 a strap for placing a foot in a desired position, the strap including:
 a first aligned portion; 
 a second aligned portion, wherein the first and second aligned portions are aligned, and wherein the first and second aligned portions are configured to be temporarily secured to each other; and 
 an offset portion located between the first and second aligned portions, wherein each end of the offset portion is laterally offset from a corresponding end of the first and second aligned portions by a fixed offset distance. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17 , the strap further comprising:
 a first transition region directly connecting a first end of the offset portion to a corresponding end of the first aligned portion; and 
 a second transition region directly connecting a second end of the offset portion to a corresponding end of the second aligned portion, wherein each of the first and second transition regions has a length approximately twice the fixed offset distance. 
 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the strap is formed of a single, continuous strip of material. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the strap is formed of a rubber latex material having a thickness of approximately 0.1 centimeters.